Guy wire end sheath



July 14, 1942. J. BLACKBURN 2,289,692

GUY WIRE END SHEATH I Filed De c. 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'ATTORNEY.

y 194? Jl BLACKBURN 2,289,692

GUY WIRE END SHEATH' Filed Dec. 15 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 H" 4 I a lab I l I ll l I b /2 I ATTORNEY. 1

Patented July 14, 1942 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUY WIRE END SHEATH Jasper Blackburn, Webster Groves, Mo.

Application December 15, 1939, Serial No. 309,337

3 Claims.

This invention relates to end caps, sheaths,

wrappers or folders for the raw or rough ends of guy wires or cables as extended between a vertically positioned pole such as a telephone or telegraph pole and a ground anchor or the like, for holding same to its Vertical position.

In the erection of such posts it is common practice to support the same by planting a ground anchor in spaced relation to the base of the post, securing one end of a multiple-strand wire cable to the post as a point suitably spaced from the ground, then passing the lower opposite end of the cable through the eye of the anchor rod, drawing the cable taut and doubling its free end back upon the cable and there securing it firmly by means of a two-part clamp bolted together over the two strands of cable as so brought together.

In bolting the clamp in place, it is commonly spaced somewhat from the rough, upturned end of the twisted wire cable, for the sake of a firm seating, with the result that the twisted ends of strands of the cable tend to unwind and spread apart outwardly, and being located near the ground, are a source of danger, injury and damageto persons or animals coming against them, especially to children playing in the vicinity.

It is the object of the present invention to provide forms of caps, wrappers, sheaths, folders or dressings for the free, rough ends of the cable loops or the like, whereby the twisted wires thereof are covered and confined, and danger of injury to persons or animals thus avoided.

Another object is to provide a cap, wrapper, sheath, or end folder for the raw or rough end of a multiple-strand wire cable, as such end is reversed upon and clamped to the cable itself to form an eye or loop for engaging the anchor rod, the said cap, wrapper or sheath comprising sleeve-like holders for embracing the two juxtaposed strands, the inner walls of the holders or at least one wall thereof, having means thereon for engaging with the helical grooves or formations between and defined by the several wires or strands as twisted together for forming the cable, whereby the cap, sheath or wrapper is held in place and is locked against movement.

With the stated objects in View, certain preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevation on a reduced scale of a section of multi-strand wire cable as conventionally connected with a ground anchor by or filaments of a standard cable, when the blank is rolled or wrapped thereon in the use of the invention.

Figure 3 is an elevation on the scale of Figure 2, showing the fluted blank of Figure 1 in process of installation upon the looped end of a cable at the neck of the loop, as in the practice of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing however the process of enwrapment of the cable loop at the neck, completed.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a modification of the invention, in the form of a sheath-blank fluted on opposite sides and. convergently from opposite margins toward the center, this blank being thus prepared for installation in a somewhat different manner from the blank of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the blank of Figure 6 partially installed.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure '7, showing however the complete installation of the wrapper or sheath.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9.--9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a View similar to Figure 3, showing another modification in the form of the invention, including spurs struck up on one margin of the sheath-blank in lieu of the flutes or corrugations shown in prior views.

Practically all wire cables are multi-ply and comprise either a plurality of single wires, or a plurality of relatively small twisted strands of wire, twisted helically together to form the final and larger cable. My invention relates to such cables of helically twisted wires, and relates par-' ticularly to the use of such cables for stays, anchors, supports or guys for telegraph poles or the like, although the invention is applicable for similar purposes in other situations,

A conventional installation of cable support for a telephone pole or the like is indicated in Figure 1, (the pole itself' not being shown.) The installation includes the wire cable 2, the ground anchor 5, the anchor rod 6, the anchor-rod-eye 'l, the cable loop 8 engaging the anchor-rod-eye l, and the conventional bolt-clamp 9.

The cable represented generally at 2, comprises a plurality of smaller fillets, or strands 3 twisted together helically as shown. This twisting process in the making of the larger cable 2, results of course in a plurality of helically extending grooves, flutes or channels 4 circumferentially surrounding the larger or completed cable.

In practising my invention I provide a rectangular sheath-blank ll), of suitably hard and stiff sheet metal, (or any other material affording the requisite hardness and stiffness), this blank being of a length substantially equal to double the circumference of the cable 2 and of any suitable width.

The blank preferably includes a cap disk [a extended integrally from one side margin thereof at a point inward from one end approximately one-sixth of the length of the side. The disk Illa has a diameter about equal to that of the cable 2, and its purpose will be later described.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the blank H] is fluted or corrugated regularly and obliquely from end to end as shown at H, these flutes being defined by the fillets l2, and the disk Illa being left plain,

The helical flutings l l and fillets l2 may or may not be equal in number to the helical grooves or channels 4 of the cable 2, but whatever the number they must be of the same formation and helicality as said channels and arranged to register with certain of said channels when rolled around the cable, and the fillets I2 dimensioned transversely to fit into and intermesh with those flutes or channels when so mounted on the cable.

In other words the helical fiutings I l and fillets I2 of the sheath blank it are formed, disposed and extended, so as to nicely register and intermesh with part or all of the helical grooves or channels 4 of the cable 2, when installed thereon.

The mounting or installation is effected by properly locating the sheath-blank it) across the two juxtaposed portions of the cable 2 forming the neck of the cable loop 8 outwardly of the conventional clamp 9, with the neck of the capdisk Illa aligned with the extremity 2a of the cable, outwardly of the loop 8. The lateral portions of the blank it are then rolled or folded up over the cable strands, at each side, and the lateral edges of the blank are tucked and wedged tightly together down in between the two juxtaposed portions of cable forming said neck of the loop 8. In this operation the helical fillets of the sheath-blank or wrapper are forced into meshing engagement with the helical channels of the cable, as above indicated. The cap-disk a is finally turned down transversely over the raw end 2a, thus completing the installation. A cap-sheath or wrapper constructed and installed as described, provides a very neat closure for the otherwise raw and dangerous end of the wire cable, and it cannot be pulled off or dislodged, owing to the intermeshing relation described. Even if the cap disk were omitted, the installed wrapper could not be moved either up or down. The caps or wrappers should be made of suitably hard and stiff material, though not brittle, so that they may be readily installed and bent into shape around the strands, and will then hold themselves properly to form. A suitable tool, such as a special form of pliers (not shown) is preferably used in installing the described caps, wrappers, or sheaths.

In the form and installation of sheath-blank or wrapper above described, it will be noted that the margins of the blank are both turned inwardly together at the same side of the two juxtaposed strands of the cable.

In Figures 6 to 9 is shown the structure and manner of installation of a modified form of blank or wrapper lllb, wherein the flutes I la, I lb and fillets l2a I2b are formed on opposite sides and from opposite end margins of the blank and are=extended convergently inward in a reversed is installed as indicated in Figures 7 and 8, by

passing the blank or wrapper down between the two strands of the cable, then bending the margins reversely around the two strands, in opposite directions, and pinching the sleeves or sheaths thus formed, tightly down and the fillets [20,, I217 tightly into mesh with the channels 4 of the cable 2, and finally bending down the cap disk 100, as before. In this form it is to be noted that the flutes or corrugations I la, l lb are necessarily disposed in the reversed relation as stated, in order that they may properly intermesh with the cable grooves or channels 4 when installed.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a further modification in the form of a sheathblank or wrapper Hid having spurs or teeth l3 struck out on one end margin or half of the blank, in lieu of the flutes Ho and fillets I20 shown on the opposite half, and for the same purpose. These teeth pierce into the helical grooves 4 of the cable strands and lock the formed up cap or wrapper in place.

However, even if the teeth I3 were not formed, and this half of the wrapper were left perfectly plain and smooth, still when properly mounted on the neck of the loop 8 as described, and pinched tightly to place, the cap could not move or slide, as the meshing flutes on the other portion of the device would anchor same against movement.

While the drawings herein show flutes and defining fillets formed at both surfaces of the blanks, while the specification calls for such flutes and fillets at only one surface, this showing of the drawings arises from the fact that the devices are preferably stamped from sheet metal by dies, and hence are necessarily corrugated or fluted on both surfaces in the process. Of course there is no objection to this double formation, and doubtless it lessens the manufacturing cost.

From the foregoing description, the structure and use of the several forms of the invention will be readily understood, and while I have here shown and illustrated certain specific forms and features of the invention, same may be changed or modified within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a looped end section of a multi-strand guy wire having helical indentations, of a cover comprising a rectangular sheet of flexible material formed with a series of diagonal corrugations coinciding with said indentations and enclosing said looped end section and the adjoining section of wire, and means on said sheet covering the end of the looped wire.

2. The combination with a looped end section of a multi-strand guy wire having helical indentations, of a cover comprising a rectangular sheet of flexible material formed with a series of diagonal corrugations coinciding with said indentations and enclosing the looped end section and the adjoining section of wire, and an integral cableend cap on said sheet covering the end of the looped cable.

3. The combination with the looped end section of a multi-strand guy wire having helical indentations, of a cover comprising a rectangular sheet of flexible material formed with a series of diagonal corrugations coinciding with said indentations and enclosing said looped end section and the adjoining section of wire, and an integral cap on said sheet enclosing the wire end and formed with a scalloped perimeter whereby the corrugations of the sheet continue through the cap.

JnSPER BLACKBURN. 

